What happens when someone trained to analyse spreadsheets decides to follow their creative passion?

In this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with Joe Hayes, founder of Kindful Creative, to explore his journey from trainee accountant to running a growing video production agency built on the values of kindness, relationships, and human connection.

Joe shares how his early career in accountancy gave him a powerful understanding of business fundamentals, but ultimately left him feeling stuck in a routine that lacked passion. What started as a hobby with a camera quickly turned into something much bigger, eventually leading Joe to take the leap and launch his own creative agency.

Throughout the conversation, Joe opens up about the realities of starting a business, the importance of understanding your numbers, and why relationships and reputation often matter more than aggressive sales strategies.

You'll also hear about the challenges of growth, staying focused as a founder, and how building a business around personal values can shape company culture and client relationships.

If you're thinking about starting a business, changing careers, or building something that aligns with your passions, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical lessons.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might find it valuable.

What The Episode Covers

• Joe Hayes' journey from trainee accountant to creative entrepreneur

• The inspiration behind launching Kindful Creative

• Why relationships are at the heart of Joe's business philosophy

• The risks and mindset shifts involved in leaving a stable career

• Why understanding financials is crucial for founders

• Lessons learned from early business decisions and partnerships

• The importance of building a strong team culture

• How podcasting and content help businesses build authority

• Balancing entrepreneurship with family life

• Joe's personal definition of success

Chapters

00:00 – Why did you become an accountant? 04:30 – What inspired the name Kindful? 08:00 – How do you build a values-driven team? 11:00 – When did creativity become a passion? 15:00 – What gave you the confidence to start a business? 21:00 – Why do founders need financial literacy? 27:30 – What does Kindful Creative actually do? 32:00 – How has leadership changed for you? 35:00 – Why should businesses create content and podcasts? 40:00 – Lifestyle business or growth company? 44:00 – What advice would you give your younger self? 47:30 – What does success mean to you?

On this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren sits down with Niall Cluley, Managing Director and shareholder at Dragonfish, a culture and performance consultancy helping ambitious brands unlock alignment, growth and long-term impact.

Niall shares his journey from corporate leadership roles at global brands including Fitness First and Vodafone, to becoming Dragonfish's founding client before stepping into ownership.

The conversation explores what culture really is beyond posters on the wall, why values alone are not enough, and how leaders can intentionally shape the "ecosystem" of behaviours, systems and experiences that drive performance.

You'll hear about the six signatures of high-performing organisations, how to maintain momentum after a culture "project", why impact matters more than engagement alone, and how AI and rapid change are reshaping the way organisations think about people and performance.

If you're leading a growing business, scaling a team, or preparing for succession or exit, this episode offers practical insight into making culture a true competitive advantage.

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to support the show.

What The Episode Covers

• Niall's journey from corporate leadership to culture consultancy
• What culture really means in practical business terms
• Founder fingerprints and scaling beyond founder energy
• Why values alone don't drive performance
• The importance of vision as a North Star
• Working backwards from the future to maintain alignment
• The six signatures of high-performing organisations
• Measuring culture in tangible, performance-linked ways
• The impact of AI and rapid change on organisational culture

Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:44 - What does Dragonfish do and why does culture matter? 03:00 – When did you realise performance and culture are inseparable? 06:00 – What does it really feel like to leave corporate and build your own consultancy? 10:20 – What does culture actually mean in practical terms? 14:30 – How much of culture is founder-driven versus intentional design? 18:00 – How do you keep vision and purpose alive in everyday business life? 24:00 – What are the six signatures of high-performing organisations? 31:00 – How do you measure culture without it becoming 'wishy-washy'? 41:00 – How will AI and rapid change reshape organisational culture? 46:30 – What leadership traits matter most when protecting culture?

On this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, we're joined by Lincoln New, co-founder of Term Footwear, who shares the full story behind launching, pivoting, scaling and eventually exiting a school footwear brand in one of the UK's toughest retail sectors. Lincoln takes us back to the early days of starting the business with little more than industry experience, belief and £700 worth of stock in a garage. He talks candidly about naivety, self-belief, dealing with doubters, managing supply chains across continents and the emotional toll of constant pivots. From distributor to brand owner, Amazon setbacks to Costco breakthroughs, Brexit to Covid, Lincoln's journey is a masterclass in resilience. The conversation explores how relationships carried the business through its hardest moments, why strategy matters most when things aren't going well, and how Lincoln approached exit planning with honesty and clarity about his "why". This episode is packed with hard-earned lessons for anyone starting, growing or thinking about exiting a business. If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to support the show.

What The Episode Covers

• Where the idea for Term Footwear came from
• Starting a business with limited capital and big ambition
• Entering an overcrowded, brand-dominated market
• Overcoming self-doubt, criticism and scepticism
• Managing overseas manufacturing and supply chains
• Pivoting from distributor to brand owner
• Navigating Amazon failures and Costco opportunities
• Surviving Brexit and Covid through strategic pivots
• Building trust-based customer relationships
• Planning, executing and emotionally navigating a business exit

Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Where did the idea for Term Footwear come from? 03:00 – What motivated you to start a business in such a crowded market? 06:30 – How did you deal with self-doubt and early scepticism? 09:50 – How did you manage sourcing and supply chains overseas? 12:40 – What forced the pivot from distributor to owning the brand? 17:00 – How did Amazon and Costco shape the business model? 23:50 – How did Covid change your strategy and market focus? 30:00 – When did you start thinking seriously about an exit? 36:00 – How did you make the business attractive to buyers? 39:00 – How did it feel to finally complete the exit? 42:30 – What advice would you give founders starting today? 49:00 – What does success mean to you now?

What does it really take to grow from a junior role into Managing Director, earn equity, scale a business through major change, and successfully exit?

In this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren sits down with Brian Parker, former Managing Director and shareholder of Britannia Parking. Brian shares an honest, behind-the-scenes account of his 20-year journey, starting in a junior finance role and progressing to board level, equity ownership and ultimately leading the business through a successful exit.

Brian talks openly about ambition, hard work, learning the numbers, and why leadership isn't about titles or ego. He reflects on the critical relationship between owner and MD, the importance of trust, and how having equity fundamentally changed his decision-making and long-term focus. The conversation also dives into scaling challenges, navigating rapid growth, managing people through change, pivoting business models, and the emotional and practical realities of selling a business.

This episode is packed with practical lessons for employees with ambition, business owners considering succession, and leaders thinking about growth, equity and exit strategies.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to support the show.

What The Episode Covers

• Starting in a junior role and progressing into leadership

• Developing commercial and financial skills to accelerate growth

• Moving from operational roles to Managing Director

• The mindset shift required when leading a business

• Building trust between shareholders and leadership

• Why equity changes behaviour and decision-making

• Scaling challenges and people decisions during growth

• Pivoting business models and embracing technology

• Preparing for and navigating a business exit

• Lessons learned from a long-term leadership journey

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – What is your background and how did you join the business?

03:00 – When did you realise this could become a long-term career?

06:30 – How did learning finance accelerate your progression?

10:00 – What changed when you stepped into the MD role?

14:30 – How do you lead without relying on ego or title?

18:00 – What makes a strong relationship between owner and MD?

24:30 – How did the business pivot and scale through major growth?

31:30 – What were the biggest challenges during the exit process?

38:30 – How did equity change your mindset and motivation?

45:00 – What advice would you give leaders on growth and exit?

On this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with James Croker, Commercial Director at Bournemouth Rugby Club. Many know James as the energetic, passionate force behind the club's growth in recent years, but few know the full story that shaped him.

James takes us from his early sporting childhood, through a 15-year career in the Royal Air Force, to the devastating series of heart attacks in his early thirties that abruptly ended both his military career and his playing days. He speaks openly about the mental health battle that followed, the loss, the darkness and ultimately the community that helped pull him back up.

We explore how rugby's core values have shaped James's leadership philosophy, the commercial transformation at Bournemouth Rugby and his mission to build a true sense of belonging in the local business community.

This conversation is a blend of raw honesty, practical wisdom and heartfelt passion for sport and people.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more listeners discover the show.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

• How sport shaped James's early life

• Why he joined the Royal Air Force

• The sudden heart condition that ended his military career

• How he battled depression and rebuilt his life

• Transitioning into coaching and returning to Bournemouth Rugby

• Building commercial sustainability and community connection

• Creating belonging and meaningful values in organisations

• Why role modelling matters in sport and business

• The importance of resilience and support networks

• James's ambitions for Bournemouth Rugby Club

Soundbites

"Sport always gave me purpose, even when nothing else made sense." "You learn from great leaders, but you learn even more from the bad ones." "Community saved me. Without it, I don't know where I'd be." "The military took my structure away overnight. That's when life really hit me." "Good rugby players aren't always good people. We want good people first." "You can't just put your values on a wall. You have to live them." "If you want to build community, create a sense of belonging and safety first." "Make your bed. Do one thing. One step leads to the next."

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – James' early years

03:20 – Military career

10:30 – Heart attacks

17:40 – Navigating depression and rebuilding life

21:45 – Bournemouth Rugby

25:30 – Building community through sport

36:00 – Rugby values

49:10 – Future of Bournemouth Rugby

55:20 – Final reflections

What does it really take to build a startup from scratch?

In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren Munson speaks with Josh Williams, co-founder of Town, a new community platform on a mission to help people rediscover and support their local independent businesses. Founded less than a year ago, Town is already building momentum by rewarding shoppers for buying local and connecting communities through tech.

Josh opens up about his journey from a series of side hustles to launching a tech startup with purpose. He talks candidly about the challenges of bootstrapping, managing self-doubt, balancing ambition with reality and why perseverance matters more than ever in the early stages.

This is a must-listen for anyone thinking about launching their own business or curious about what happens behind the scenes during a startup.

Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more people discover the Evolve to Succeed Podcast!

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

• How Town is helping revive independent retail

• The inspiration behind the idea (and how Amazon played a role)

• Lessons from a year of building a startup

• Why Josh believes constraint fuels creativity

• The highs and lows of early entrepreneurship

• The importance of co-founders and complementary skills

• Balancing purpose with profit and scalability

• Why AI won't replace human connection

• Overcoming doubt, fear of failure, and burnout

• Josh's advice for anyone thinking of starting their own business

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

01:10 – What is Town and why it exists

03:15 – The mission to revive independent business

06:20 – How the idea for Town began

08:55 – Early startup challenges and first customers

11:20 – The highs and lows of year one

13:40 – Lean building and bootstrapping lessons

17:00 – Self-funding vs raising capital

19:40 – Why focus and persistence matter

23:20 – Planning Town's growth and data insights

28:50 – Facing failure and overcoming doubt

31:40 – The importance of co-founders

36:30 – AI and the future of human connection

40:35 – Lessons from the Evolve Accelerator experience

47:20 – Josh's top advice for aspiring founders

50:00 – Closing reflections

What makes a truly high-performing team, and why do so many fail to reach that level?

In this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson sits down with Nick Fewings, founder of Ngagement Works and author of Team Lead Succeed. Known as a "Teamologist," Nick shares insights from over three decades of experience helping leaders and teams reach their potential.

From his early leadership struggles at Barclays to coaching global organisations, Nick explores the psychology of teamwork, covering trust, purpose, accountability and the fine balance between empathy and strategy.

He also reveals why only 10% of teams are truly high-performing and how leaders can cultivate consistency, communication and psychological safety within their organisations. Packed with practical advice and relatable stories, this episode is a masterclass in leading people, fostering collaboration and creating teams that thrive together.

If you enjoy the conversation, please subscribe, share and leave a review! It really helps more people discover the show.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

+ How failure led Nick to study team dynamics + Why most teams are only "average" performers + The difference between leadership and management + Building psychological safety and trust + Balancing empathy with strategic leadership + Aligning personal and organisational purpose + Handling misaligned team members + Encouraging open, candid communication + Embedding accountability across a team

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Intro 01:00 – How failure sparked a passion for teamwork 04:45 – What makes a team dysfunctional? 06:50 – Leadership vs. Management 09:10 – Building trust and psychological safety 13:50 – Managing stress and self-awareness as leaders 15:40 – The art of strategic empathy 17:15 – Purpose, alignment and shared values 22:30 – Communication, honesty and feedback 32:10 – Accountability within teams 39:00 – The myth of KPIs 43:20 – Advice to your younger leadership self 46:00 – Outro and Reflections

If you enjoy the conversation, please subscribe, share and leave a review! It really helps more people discover the show.

What if you could completely transform your health, energy, and outlook in just a few years?

This week on the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren is joined by Rachel Williams, founder of Zest Lifestyle, wellbeing coach, and passionate advocate for preventative health. Rachel's story is remarkable - 25 years ago she was overweight, smoking 40 cigarettes a day, drinking heavily, and burnt out from her high-pressure corporate career. Then one morning in a Barcelona hotel, she had her "OMG moment" and decided to change everything.

Since then, Rachel has not only rebuilt her own life but has dedicated the last two decades to helping others do the same. In this conversation, she shares the five pillars of wellness -sleep, eat, move, think, and pause - and explains how small, consistent changes can have a profound impact on your health and longevity. We also dive into the dangers of ultra-processed food, the rise of burnout, and how businesses can create cultures of wellbeing that benefit both people and performance.

Rachel's mission is clear: extend healthspan, not just lifespan. Her insights will inspire you to rethink your daily habits and take control of your wellbeing.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, share it with your network, and leave us a review - it really helps others discover the show.

Chapters / Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro & Rachel's Transformation Story

• 03:00 – The OMG Moment in Barcelona

• 07:30 – From Corporate Life to Wellness Coach

• 10:30 – The Five Pillars of Wellness

• 18:00 – Small Habits, Big Health Gains

• 26:30 – Weight Loss Drugs, Risks & Realities

• 29:30 – Mental Health, Stress & Ultra-Processed Food

• 40:00 – Building a Culture of Wellbeing at Work

• 44:00 – Zest Nation & The Blue Zone Inspiration

• 54:00 – Rachel's Definition of Success: Balance

AI is no longer a distant concept. It's here. But what does it mean for business, creativity and society as a whole?

In this thought-provoking episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, host Warren Munson is joined by two experts at the forefront of the AI revolution. Nick Carlile, founder of Olivia AI, and Dan Smith, CEO of Fireworx. Together, they explore the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence. From democratising knowledge and levelling the playing field for small businesses, to the existential risks around ethics, regulation and human identity.

Expect candid insights on how AI is transforming work, displacing jobs while creating new ones and forcing business leaders to rethink strategies. The conversation also tackles creativity. Can AI truly innovate, or is it simply remixing human ideas?

Whether you're excited about AI or concerned about its implications, this episode offers valuable perspectives on where we are now and where we might be heading.

If you enjoy the show, don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave us a review to help more listeners discover these conversations.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

+ Why AI represents one of the biggest opportunities in business history. + The impact of AI on jobs, skills and human identity. + How AI is reshaping creativity, branding and marketing. + The challenges of bias, ethics and regulation in AI. + Dystopian vs. utopian futures. Where might AI take us? + Practical advice for business leaders on adopting AI strategically.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction 01:14 - Excitement Around AI 04:46 - Impact on Jobs & Skill 10:19 - Human Connection vs. Automation 18:58 - Ethics, Trust & Regulation 28:02 - Bias in AI 32:53 - AI and Creativity 42:27 - Practical Uses & Business Strategy 53:01 - Entrepreneurship, Risk & Business Models 56:46 - Utopia or Dystopia?

Are you a business owner or leader looking to navigate change with confidence? At Evolve, we help ambitious businesses like yours unlock growth, embrace innovation, and build strategies fit for the future.

👉 Get in touch with our team today to explore how we can support you and your business journey: www.evolveadvisory.co.uk

What happens when the life you dreamed of doesn't bring you happiness?

This week on the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, we're joined by Katherine Baldwin. Former Reuters political and foreign correspondent who once travelled the world alongside Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron. From covering wars, natural disasters, and global crises, Katherine lived a life of adrenaline, success, and status. Yet behind the scenes, she was battling burnout, binge eating, alcohol dependence, and an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

In this deeply honest and inspiring conversation, Katherine shares how she transitioned from chasing external validation to finding inner peace and purpose. We discuss the dangers of overachievement, the role of addiction and denial in high-pressure careers, and the courage it takes to step away from an identity built on success. Katherine also reveals the practices and mindset shifts that helped her recover, embrace self-love, and build meaningful relationships.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or professional striving for balance, this episode will give you tools to pause, reflect, and realign with what truly matters.

👉 If you find value in this episode, please subscribe, share it with others, and leave us a review. It really helps the podcast grow.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

Success Doesn't Guarantee Fulfilment: Katherine shares how her dream career reporting from Downing Street and the White House left her feeling empty and unfulfilled despite the outward success.

Adrenaline Can Be an Addiction: Katherine describes how her life was fuelled by adrenaline, excessive work, binge eating and drinking, unaware she was using these to avoid unresolved pain.

Numbing Isn't Coping: She explains how we often use work, alcohol, exercise or even relationships to numb discomfort, but the feelings always catch up with us.

Burnout Is a Wake-Up Call: A personal crisis and grief forced Katherine to face years of denial, leading her to finally seek help and reassess her life's direction.

Tell Yourself the Truth First: Recovery starts with self-honesty. Katherine encourages listeners to ask hard questions: What am I avoiding? What's this behaviour really about?

Healthy Relationships Start With Self-Love: Katherine talks about how early trauma creates patterns in love, and how self-worth and boundaries are the foundation for meaningful connection.

Presence Over Productivity: From sea swims to journaling, Katherine shares the small daily rituals that keep her grounded and help her avoid falling back into old habits.

Redefine Success as Inner Peace: Her definition of success has shifted from status and prestige to something simpler and more profound: peace, fulfilment, and joy.

Soundbites

"I was in Downing Street, the White House, rubbing shoulders with world leaders—and I still felt dead inside."

"Externally, it looked like I had it all. Internally, I was crumbling."

"I was using food, alcohol, adrenaline, and achievement to numb the pain inside me."

"Tell the truth. Start by telling yourself the truth."

"If you're numbing out—through alcohol, overwork, relationships, social media—what are you trying to escape?"

"Our bodies will keep the score. Burnout, illness, even disease—these are the costs we pay when we don't pause."

"We think hustling is the answer. But at what cost? To our peace, our health, our families?"

"We care for ourselves not just for us—but so we can care for the business, the team, the people we love."

"Presence is a superpower. It's not weakness. It's everything."

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro & Katherine's Background

• 04:30 – Success on the Outside, Struggles Within

• 10:15 – Burnout, Breakdown & Denial

• 17:00 – Leaving Reuters & Facing Identity Loss

• 23:30 – First Steps Toward Healing

• 30:00 – Daily Practices for Self-Care & Presence

• 41:00 – Boundaries, Balance & Saying "Enough"

• 47:00 – Building Healthy Relationships & Her Book

• 55:00 – Quickfire Round & Defining Success

• 56:30 – Closing Reflections & Where to Find Katherine