Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas explore the sweet spot between structure and spontaneity—one spreadsheet, one leadership anecdote, and one interrupted intro at a time. This week, we ask the question: Do numbers kill creativity - or can they be the foundation for trust, stability, and a healthier workplace culture?

In this episode, we:

🔹 Argued about analytics and intros – Do Max’s musical openings cause YouTube drop-offs? Is there such a thing as overcommunication? Simon investigates the stats. Andreas just wants to move on.

🔹 Dug into the difference between Entrepreneurs and Unternehmers – Is your business built for a flashy exit or for generational wealth? Max lays out the distinction, Andreas challenges the definitions, and Simon quietly contemplates the future of Mittelstand legacy.

🔹 Talked numbers vs. narrative – Are spreadsheets your north star, or just a safety blanket? From miller beer imports to stock photo disruption, we break down how numbers tell a story—but never the whole one.

🔹 Explored trust in the workplace – With declining faith in media and politics, the company you work for might just be the most trusted institution in your life. We unpack what that means for internal comms, leadership, and long-term employee engagement.

🔹 Highlighted the human factor – From Max’s sister in Tunisia to Duncan Donuts’ loyal staff, it turns out clear expectations, mutual respect, and being treated like a person (not a “resource”) can drive retention and culture better than free pizza ever could.

🔹 Got real about leadership comms – Overproduced videos don’t create connection. Instead, we make the case for informal, eye-level communication—think internal podcasts, weekly check-ins, and just talking with people, not to them.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – New week, new streaks, and no kid songs in sight:

🎵 Countless Skies – Be'lakor (Andreas leveling up his melodic death metal game)

🎵 Over & Over (Marsh Remix) – Leo Wood, Marsh (Simon finally breaks the children’s music curse)

🎵 Trying to Find a World That’s Been and Gone – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Max getting wistful with Britpop brilliance)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for business takes, leadership therapy, and the occasional mic drop moment:

📍 Max – LinkedIn

📍 Simon – LinkedIn

📍 Andreas – LinkedIn

📰 Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter: The Mic Drop

🎙️ Mayhem & Masterplans is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #LeadershipMatters #CompanyCulture #InternalComms #TrustInBusiness #HypecastProductions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that you don’t need a unicorn valuation to have sharp insights - just a mic, a business model, and maybe a good Italian espresso. This week, we dig into the story behind Bending Spoons, the Milan-based tech juggernaut quietly building an empire by acquiring apps, cutting costs, and rewriting the playbook on buy vs. build.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Unpacked the rise of Bending Spoons – From building mobile apps in Milan to acquiring Evernote, Meetup, Komoot, and even WeTransfer. Simon walks us through how they buy, refactor, and relaunch tools with leaner teams, and Andreas wants to know: does gutting the original dev team ever work?

🔹 Debated tech takeovers – Can you really hand over a full product to a new engineering team and expect it to thrive? Simon breaks down the logic behind rewriting from scratch, and Andreas asks what’s actually preserved: the user base, the logo… or just the brand equity?

🔹 Explored business model evolution – Is this the anti-VC model Europe’s been waiting for? Max contrasts Bending Spoons with Germany’s Platform Group and argues we might be seeing the rise of private equity for product-led growth.

🔹 Talked synergy and scale – From shared analytics stacks to AWS discounts and centralized marketing, the crew discusses how backend efficiency fuels Bending Spoons' operating model—and where that can (and can’t) scale across different tech stacks.

🔹 Questioned the VC hype cycle – Remember 15-minute grocery delivery apps? So do we. Andreas and Max unpack the problem with unicorn chasing and argue for building long-term category leaders instead of burning cash on blitzscale dreams.

🔹 Got real about European ambition – Are European founders too cautious—or just more sustainable? Max argues that Germany’s family-owned Mittelstand is ready to think global, while Andreas points out that most prefer stability over scale.

🔹 Found some mayhem in Berlin’s public transport – Spoiler: random strikes are not a scalable mobility solution.

And, of course, we are closing the episode with our musicial choices for the week – From metalcore to moody pop to mellow guitar solos, here’s what’s been in our ears last:

🎵 Evidence – Lamb of God (Andreas repping metal and coincidence-core)

🎵 Watch – Billie Eilish (Simon brings mayhem with moody minimalism)

🎵 Last Train Home – John Mayer (Max cools it down with some soft rock soul)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts - and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #BendingSpoons #TechAcquisitions #BuyVsBuild #CategoryPlays #EuropeanTech #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas take on the tech hype cycle, corporate chaos, and the philosophical weight of living in an age where machines can write your emails and steal your soul (maybe).

This week, we’re talking AI—not just the buzzword, but the reality of what it means for creators, developers, businesses, and basically anyone who’s been alive since 2022.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Debated the hype vs. the utility – Andreas is allergic to hype (and crypto), but cautiously optimistic about what AI can actually automate. Max wonders if we’ll soon label podcasts like we label meat: AI-generated vs. “free-range”. And Simon’s just out here doing the real work and reaping the benefits.

🔹 Explored AI in developer workflows – Why are some devs resisting AI tools, even as others are shouting 10x productivity from the rooftops? Simon thinks it’s a mindset issue. Max thinks it’s because devs are secretly the most conservative profession in tech. Andreas thinks it’s about whether you care more about the process or the product.

🔹 Got metaphorical – Photography. Punk rock. Slide decks. The gang finds parallels between different crafts and how AI changes the game for beginners vs. experts. If you’re mediocre, AI might make you better. If you’re great, it might just make you… average.

🔹 Talked politics, of course – From Bernie and AOC rallies to Chuck Schumer critiques and brain drain from the U.S. to Europe. Somehow, the Max Planck Institute, Morgan Stanley, and open AI labs in Munich all came up. (You know. The usual.)

🔹 Complained about investor buzzwords – Just because your startup now says “AI-powered” doesn’t mean it’s not the same boring HR tool from 2019.

🔹 Ended with music, as always – because no discussion of artificial intelligence is complete without a soundtrack made by real humans (or at least curated by them):

🎵 Sweet Dreams – Super Simple Songs (Simon, keeping the kids’ music streak alive)

🎵 Not Nothing – Dark Tranquillity (Andreas, adding some Swedish melodic death metal to the mix)

🎵 I’m Still Standing – Elton John (Max, throwing it back with resilient glam pop vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes banter, tech skepticism, and all the glorious mess of figuring it out while the robots take notes.

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #AI #DeveloperDebates #PodcastingInTheAgeOfMachines #BusinessWithAGlitch

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas talk about climate finance, collapsing trees, 90s hardcore bands, and the very real possibility that we’re all living in the prequel to Idiocracy. This week’s episode is named after the legendary (and now closed) New York music venue Saint Vitus—because what better metaphor for tight stages and tighter budgets?

In this episode, we:

🌧️ Survived more Madrid mayhem – A pine tree fell, streets flooded, and we nearly turned this podcast into a weather report. Again.

💸 Talked climate infrastructure and political deals – Germany’s new government is spending big on climate reform, but not without drama. Should we call climate protection “economic policy” and be done with it?

🗽 Debated whether France really wants the Statue of Liberty back – Is it satire, diplomatic performance art, or just a very French way of trolling?

🩴 Went full Idiocracy – Crocs were once a joke. Now they’re in every office. Coincidence? We think not.

🎸 Got hyped for small-venue tour life – Andreas is joining his friends’ Euro tour (not as a rockstar, but close enough). From carrying boxes to snapping pics, it’s DIY spirit all the way.

🎤 Shared favorite concerts – From Metallica in Zurich to Rammstein at Hurricane Festival, we dive deep into big shows, tiny venues, and the magic of a well-tuned soundboard.

🎧 Got nerdy about audio engineering – Good live sound isn’t a coincidence—it’s hard work, clever gear, and sometimes calling your sound guy mid-festival.

🔥 Reflected on rockstar life cycles – Do iconic bands mirror the growth curve of great companies? Startup grind, mid-career slump, and eventual stadium domination. We see you, ACDC.

As always, we wrapped up with what we’re listening to this week:

🎵 Jeremy – Pearl Jam (Andreas feeling 90s grunge nostalgia) 🔗 Listen on Spotify

🎵 If You’re Happy – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s wholesome playlist continues) 🔗 Listen on Spotify

🎵 Still D.R.E. – Dr. Dre (Max going classic West Coast) 🔗 Listen on Spotify

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for more music talk, mild existentialism, and deep dives into startup metaphors.

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions.

📸 Tour updates (and maybe Croc pics) coming soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that strategy, vision, and way too much business jargon are best tackled with a microphone and a good sense of humor. This week, we’re charting our course, defining our North Stars, and figuring out if ICPs are actually useful—or just another buzzword for business bingo.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Got lost in the concept of Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) – Are they an essential tool or just a fancy way to pretend you have your business under control? Andreas breaks down how defining ICPs helped Forward Momentum sharpen its focus, while Max and Simon debate whether companies should focus less on personas and more on just doing the work.

🔹 Argued about strategy vs. action – Should businesses spend more time figuring out who they’re selling to, or should they just hit the ground running and adjust along the way? Max takes a strong stance against startup books and frameworks, and Simon wonders if ICPs are just a distraction from actually getting customers.

🔹 Got philosophical about our own North Stars – What drives us? What keeps us going? And should a North Star be something you can actually reach, or an impossible goal that keeps you moving forward? Simon’s got his vision sealed in an envelope, Andreas wants to leave a lasting impact, and Max just wants to be the Jimmy Iovine of corporate podcasting.

🔹 Debated external vs. internal motivation – Does success come from within, or do we need validation from others? Are we driven by personal growth, financial success, or the legacy we leave behind? Spoiler: we still don’t agree.

🔹 Got deep into business psychology – From visualization techniques to breaking through obstacles (or just chopping them down), we explore how mindset shapes success—and whether we should all be writing down our North Stars.

🔹 Complained about too much self-promotion – Yes, we mentioned Hypecast and Forward Momentum too many times, and yes, Max is already tired of it.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – As always, we wrapped up with what we’ve been listening to, because strategy discussions need soundtracks too:

🎵 The Answer – Bad Religion (Andreas throwing it back to punk rock wisdom)

🎵 If You’re Happy and You Know It – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s weekly kids’ music streak continues)

🎵 You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with heavy desert rock vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #NorthStar #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that time zones, weather, and corporate jargon are no match for their dedication to talking into microphones. This week, we take on New York rain, Greek hospitality, and the wild world of corporate comms—all while attempting to sound like we know what we’re doing.

In this episode, we:

• Took on NYC’s apocalyptic weather – Max landed in the Big Apple just in time for a torrential downpour. Because nothing says “welcome” like getting soaked in front of a conference full of senior executives.
• Rubbed elbows with corporate royalty – We infiltrated a room full of C-suite comms leaders from Coca-Cola, Walmart, and the NFL. Turns out, CEOs care a lot about their reputation, internal comms matter more than ever, and employees are the new media.
• Explored the business of trust – Forget CNN—employees are more likely to trust company emails over traditional news. The real question: Does that mean your boss is now your most reliable journalist?
• Turned into full-blown salesmen – Simon preps for Radio Days Europe in Athens, a podcast summit where he’ll be pitching our huge upcoming audio event, Amplify—because if you don’t shamelessly plug your own projects, who will?
• Watched podcasters lose money (again) – Spotify’s big video podcasting experiment is flopping, with creators realizing they’re making less money and spending more on production. Who could’ve seen that coming? (Spoiler: everyone.)
• Celebrated International Women’s Day – Special shoutout to Mary Mooney, who turned corporate comms into a musical and somehow made it work. Broadway, take notes.
• Debated whether Broadway is worth it – Max considers seeing a show in NYC, only to realize that ticket prices are basically rent payments.

Wrapped it up with music recommendations – From kid-friendly bops to desert rock anthems, here’s what we’re listening to this week:

🎵 North Star – Nungara (Andreas supporting friends & good tunes)

🎵 Seven Steps – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s “definitely-for-his-kids” playlist)

🎵 Made to Parade – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with his all-time favorite band)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and possibly Max getting drenched in NYC again:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas are still figuring out if this podcast is a brilliant idea or just a very well-documented midlife crisis. Either way, episode one is here—and it’s got everything from technical meltdowns to global politics.

In this episode, we:

• Survived global tech mayhem – Internet outages, government shutdowns, and remote recording from three countries. If chaos had a podcast, this would be it.
• Checked in on Germany’s election aftermath – What happens when record voter turnout meets a political landscape in flux? We break down the results, the narratives, and why Friedrich Merz was grinning like a kid who found the last piece of cake.
• Talked about voting patterns and East-West divides – 35 years after unification, why do voters in eastern Germany still feel left behind? We explore the historical baggage, missed opportunities, and why throwing money at the problem never solves it all.
• Dove into the future of podcasting – With Netflix entering the podcast space, we debate whether this is the golden age of podcasts or the beginning of “scripted reality 2.0.” Plus, what makes a good recommendation engine—and why YouTube might quietly be winning that race.
• Debated leadership vs. management – Is Friedrich Merz actually a leader? Or just the guy who happened to be standing there when the music stopped? We reflect on what real leadership looks like—in politics, business, and beyond.
• Talked about what we’re watching – Max is craving epic historical movies (think Braveheart and The Patriot), Andreas wants smarter content recommendations, and Simon just wants to watch something without an existential crisis attached.
• 
  

As always, we wrapped it up with music recommendations, because every great podcast needs a soundtrack:

🎵 Find a Way – Kadinski (from Simon’s trusty Lofi Boombap Vibes 2025 playlist)

🎵 TMHC – Aether Realm (Andreas repping his shirt and his playlist)

🎵 Don’t You Miss – Redman (Max staying true to 90s hip hop roots)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes chaos and bonus content:

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Mayhem & Masterplans, the podcast where three sharp-minded entrepreneurs navigate the fine line between strategy and spontaneity. Think of it as an insider’s look at the juggling act of business, life, and everything in between.

In this episode, we:

Introduce ourselves – Meet Max, Simon, and Andreas, three founders balancing business, family, and the ever-changing world around them.

Explain the podcast concept – We named it Mayhem & Masterplans because every great achievement starts with a little chaos.

Balance chaos and order – Running companies, raising kids, and still making time to keep up with the world (and maybe some late-night Twitter scrolling).

Tackle voting while abroad – The logistical puzzle of casting your vote from overseas and why democracy sometimes requires express shipping.

Break down social media weirdness – Simon’s Instagram feed went rogue, Max is reminiscing about MySpace, and Andreas is still trying to make Mastodon happen.

Talk sports (sort of) – Simon is obsessed with soccer, Max nods politely, and Andreas wonders if he can somehow turn this conversation into a tax deduction.

Wrap it up with music – Because every good podcast needs a playlist. Or at least a questionable mix of prog rock, lofi beats, and country heartbreak anthems.

We’re excited to kick this off and see where it takes us. Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on social media - because great ideas (and a little mayhem) thrive in good company.

https://www.instagram.com/mr.max.conrad/

https://www.instagram.com/simonkapell/

https://www.instagram.com/agebhard/

Music Recommendations from this Episode:

🎵 Bend the Clock – Dream Theater (because why settle for a normal time signature?)

🎵 Vara – Simba & Alivi (ideal for deep thoughts or zoning out completely)

🎵 Loving You on My Mind – Chris Stapleton (for when you want to feel something but aren’t sure what)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.