Meet My Business is back for a new season — and we're kicking it off with a special episode.

To open the season, we sit down with Baird Media, the father-and-son podcast production company celebrating five years in business. Co-founders Hendrik and Ethan Baird trace a journey that's far longer than five years: from making home movies on a borrowed MacBook, to running a chaotic and groundbreaking internet radio station, to becoming the production company known in South Africa's podcast scene simply as "the Bairds."

It's an unusually honest conversation about building a family business backwards — deciding, as equals, to start something from nothing rather than inheriting it. They talk about the failures that taught them the most, narrowing from "we'll do anything for anybody" to a focused production company, the audio drama they're proudest of, and why so many podcasts quit before they ever find their feet. Along the way: what it's actually like for a father and son to be 50/50 partners, and why honesty is the thing that's kept them from stagnating.

A fitting start to a new season of conversations with the people behind small businesses worth knowing. Baird Media

Lenka Koppova is a marketing therapist for coaches and health & wellbeing professionals who helps business owners level up their marketing in a way that suits their business.

In this episode, we learn more about Lenka's business as well as finding out her thoughts on content marketing. www.linkedin.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

As a holistic business and mindset coach - Christine Ofner does not believe in a one size fits all approach. In this episode, we discuss Christine's online business journey. We also discuss the concept of energy management - and Christine gives us some incredibly useful advice for how to prevent burnout by listening to your body and carefully planning your work around your energy. www.linkedin.com · www.christineofner.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Michelle MacFarlane is a Business Growth Strategist, Marketing Trainer & Coach, International Speaker, Podcast Co-host and an award-winning Networker. She also absolutely loves helping small business grow!

In this episode, we discuss what you should focus on in the early stages of your business. There are many traps and things that waste your time out there, and it is important to figure out where to focus your precious time and energy. www.linkedin.com · dragonconsulting.biz · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Colleen Qvist is a life coach who works with Doctors, helping people leave their comfort zone. In this week's episode, we discuss what to do when your clients misbehave. It can be a frustrating experience that impacts your business quite severely - and we chat all about the ways to mitigate these issues.

Email Colleen: [email protected] www.linkedin.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Debbie Bryan works with coaches/consultants who are solopreneurs to help them reduce bottleneck and become a true business owners. In this episode, we discuss the steps you need to take to work on your business and not in it. From understanding your personality and the personality of your audience to those tasks that you have to start outsourcing today. www.linkedin.com · www.debbiebryancoach.co.uk · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Erik Vermeulen is a business consultant and mountaineering expedition leader. He helps leaders build more effective behaviors that make their team more profitable. In this episode, we chat about what he calls "The Trust Equation" - how to build trust with your audience.

Email Erik at [email protected] www.linkedin.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Andy Zeeman helps businesses grow, by ensuring that they have set up their processes correctly. In this episode, we chat about what businesses need to focus on to take those important steps forward. www.linkedin.com · www.andyzeeman.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Burnout is incredibly dangerous, especially if you are entrepreneur. In this episode, we chat to Antonette Schminke, a Neuro Life Coach and NBI Practioner, all about burnout and you can manage it before it becomes a massive problem. www.linkedin.com · clarityworks.co.za · www.facebook.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People

Jared Shippel is building a coaching platform that he believes will revolutionize the industry. Check out this week's episode to learn about this cutting-edge approach that aims to democratize coaching for companies all around the world.

Get in touch with Jared:

[email protected] www.eq-coachingpro.com · Virtual Coffee Date with Hendrik Baird · Virtual Coffee Date with Ethan Baird · Baird Media - The Podcast People