THE 29ERS SHOW [Unscripted]

Technology is moving faster than ever. For two Gen X founders leading a technology-forward business, navigating what's next means knowing what to embrace, what to question, and where experience still matters.

In this episode of The 29ERS Show Unscripted, Kev and Gillian explore the "Generational Edge" and how growing up through the shift from analogue to digital has shaped the way they approach emerging technology. From drawing boards to generative AI, they discuss why having lived through multiple waves of technological change can offer a valuable perspective on what comes next.

The conversation also explores the value of bringing different generations together, combining digital fluency and fresh thinking with experience, strategic perspective and human connection.

In this episode:

• Adapting to rapid technology shifts from analogue to digital

• Strategically aligning AI adoption with commercial goals

• Establishing enterprise-grade governance and data safety

• Leading multi-generational teams and leveraging generational traits

• Fostering human connection in a digital-first workspace

• Embracing continuous learning and reverse mentoring

Whether you're navigating AI adoption, leading a multi-generational team, or simply trying to understand what's coming next, this conversation offers practical insights and honest experiences from two founders who have spent decades adapting to technological change.

Explore more episodes: http://linktr.ee/29studios

What happens when the person you build a life with becomes the person you build a business with? Balancing the roles of spouses, co-founders, and parents creates a unique dynamic where personal and professional boundaries are constantly being redefined.

In this episode of The 29ERS Show Unscripted, the conversation explores the realities of running a business with a spouse, establishing distinct professional personas, setting clear boundaries, and maintaining physical health and well-being to support a long-term career.

In this episode:

• Navigating spousal, parental, and business personas

• The unsaid rules of roles and responsibilities

• Resolving disagreements and avoiding the "rabbit hole"

• Prioritising physical fitness, health, and longevity

• Standing by core principles in business and life

• Reflecting on a multi-decade journey of shared growth

Whether you're building a business with a partner or thinking about the long-term journey of entrepreneurship, this conversation offers honest insights into making a partnership work both in business and in life.

Explore more episodes: http://linktr.ee/29studios

Running a family business is rewarding, but it's also one of the hardest ways to build a company. When work and family overlap, the business doesn't stop when the office closes.

In this episode of The 29ERS Show Unscripted, we discuss the realities of growing a family business, making the shift from working in the business to working on it, navigating conflict, leading with responsibility, and building something that becomes more than a career, it becomes your life's work.

In this episode:

• The biggest challenge of running a family business

• Working on the business vs. in the business

• Managing conflict without damaging relationships

• The responsibility that comes with leadership

• Building a business with purpose and long-term vision

• The future of family businesses in a changing world

Whether you're part of a family business, leading a team, or building your own legacy, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest experiences.

Explore more episodes: http://linktr.ee/29studios

Is working in a family business right for everyone?

When people hear the words family business, they often assume it's all about the family. But lasting businesses aren't built by the people who started them alone. They're built by the people who choose to believe in the vision, take ownership, and help carry it forward.

In this episode, Katelin sits down with Stacey to explore their different but parallel journeys. From Stacey's ten-year wait to finally secure her role, to Katelin navigating the expectations of joining her parents' business—they share how trust is earned, responsibility grows over time, and company culture is shaped by people, not perks.

Together, they reflect on the shift from simply doing a job to carrying a name that isn't yours, and why belonging has nothing to do with sharing the founders' surname.

In this episode:

• The 10-Year Interview: Stacey's remarkable story of applying, waiting a decade, and finally claiming her role

• Overcoming Preconceptions: Katelin's candid reflection on entering the family business and battling assumptions

• Defining True 'Culture': Why real company culture relies on shared passion, not forced team-building events

• All In or All Out: The difference between simply having a job and taking ownership of a shared vision

• The Weight of Representation: The intense pressure of carrying a global brand on your shoulders

• Duplicating Leadership: Learning to let go, set high standards, and empower the next level of the team

Whether you're an ambitious professional trying to step up in your career, a leader learning how to trust your team, or simply curious about the internal dynamics of an agile agency, this conversation offers a powerful look at what it takes to build a proactive and empowered workforce.

Explore more episodes and resources: linktr.ee/29studios

Are traditional creative agencies becoming obsolete?

In this episode, Kev and Gillian explore how AI is reshaping the creative industry and why agencies that fail to adapt risk being left behind. Drawing on three years of integrating AI into 29studios' workflows, they share practical insights on building enterprise-grade content systems, protecting customer data, and using technology to deliver better outcomes for clients.

They discuss the balance between automation and human creativity, why judgement and strategy remain invaluable, and how AI can eliminate repetitive work so creative teams can focus on higher-value thinking.

In this episode:

• Why the traditional agency model is changing and what comes next

• Building AI-powered workflows instead of relying on the "black box"

• The role of human creativity in an AI-driven future

• Enterprise AI governance and protecting customer data

• Passing efficiency gains on to customers without sacrificing quality

• Practical advice for creatives looking to upskill and stay ahead

Whether you're a creative professional, agency owner, marketer, or simply curious about the future of work, this conversation offers an honest look at how AI is transforming the industry and why those willing to evolve have the greatest opportunity.

Explore more episodes and resources: linktr.ee/29studios

What does it take to survive and thrive for nearly two decades in the fiercely competitive creative industry? In Episode 174 of 29ERS Show Unscripted, Kev dives deep with Gillian, pulling back the curtain on their 17-year history running 29studios, revealing the unvarnished truth about what it takes to scale the agency into a global player.

Listen in as they share deeply personal insights on their entrepreneurial path that started way back in 1998. From navigating burnout and the importance of having the right people in your corner, to the mindset shifts required to thrive as a boutique Scottish agency working with billion-dollar global enterprises.

In this episode, we unpack:

• The partnership lesson: Why one early decision had unexpected consequences.

• The power of process: Why implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) is the number one thing they would do differently if starting over today to scale faster.

• Overcoming the fear of failure: Breaking away from traditional mindsets and learning to embrace failure as a crucial stepping stone to ultimate success.

• Redefining true success: How the goalposts shifted from making £400 a week in a back bedroom to finding genuine happiness, freedom, and enjoying the entrepreneurial journey.

• Family and business dynamics: Navigating the emotional highs and lows of running a family business, and the immense pride in watching their daughter, Katelin, develop into a fearless entrepreneur.

• Future-proofing with AI: Why stepping back from the day-to-day operations to focus on AI and technological innovation is absolutely essential for the next 17 years.

Listen to find out why Kev and Gillian have absolutely no regrets, and why they believe right now is the most exciting time in history to start a business!

If you loved these honest reflections on entrepreneurship and business growth, make sure to hit that subscribe button so you never miss our future conversations!

Explore all our past episodes and resources right here: http://linktr.ee/29studios

Welcome back to another insightful episode of the 29ERS Show Unscripted!

In Episode 173, we sit down with Kev and Gillian to unpack the biggest topic in business right now: Artificial Intelligence. Drawing on Kev's 40 years of experience in the creative industries, he explains why we are actually entering the most exciting creative era yet, rather than giving in to the fear of AI replacing jobs. The founders discuss how AI serves as a powerful collaborative agent that eliminates repetitive, tedious tasks, ultimately giving us back our most precious resource: time.

By stepping out of the weeds of production, businesses can focus on building trust, innovating, and connecting with their customers on a deeper level.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Shift from Making to Directing: How the creative bottleneck is no longer execution, but having the taste, strategy, and judgement to guide AI tools effectively

• Finding the Signal in the Noise: Why having a unique human perspective is your ultimate competitive advantage when anyone can generate infinite generic content for free

• The Human Connection Premium: Why the rapid rise of digital tools is making face-to-face interactions, live events, and relationship-building more critical for brands than ever before

• Empathy and "Reading the Room": Why AI cannot replicate the emotional intelligence required to truly understand a client's unspoken needs or capture a "gut feeling"

• The Ultimate Gift of AI: How automating routine tasks gives us the freedom to focus on what matters most, proving that a truly great idea is still a rare and highly sought-after commodity

Make sure to tune in and discover why loving what you do is the ultimate secret to thriving alongside these new creative technologies!

If this conversation sparked some new ideas for you, please make sure to subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode! Leave a comment below sharing your thoughts on how AI is impacting your specific industry, and take a moment to engage with our community. We love hearing from you.

Dive deeper, discover more conversations here: http://linktr.ee/29studios

Step behind the scenes with us on another exciting episode of 29ERS Unscripted! Episode 172 features Kev and Gillian, as they dive deep into the cutting-edge "Realities" side of the business, focussing on 3D animation, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR).

Join us as we explore how these immersive technologies are completely transforming the way global enterprise businesses operate. Kev shares his lifelong passion for 3D innovation, dating back to buying his first Mac.

We discuss how putting highly complex manufacturing equipment into a headset allows companies to stop shipping heavy machinery around the world for exhibitions, saving on massive freight costs while increasing sustainability.

In this episode, we dive into:

• "Don't ship the kit, ship the experience": How VR is replacing physical product shipping and transforming global trade shows

• Creating memories, not just views: Why experiencing something in an immersive VR headset creates a true feeling and memory compared to watching it on a flat laptop screen

• Faster decisions and fewer prototypes: Using photorealistic 3D to visualise, explode, and interact with the micro-details of a product before any expensive physical engineering takes place

• Revolutionising health and safety: Utilising VR "freeze frame" techniques to train employees for high-risk manufacturing scenarios without putting lives on the line or halting production

• The power of Apple Vision Pro: Why enterprise organisations are rapidly adopting the latest spatial computing technology to stand out and connect with their customers

• The Metaverse and beyond: Exciting thoughts on Web3, digital transformation, and the rapid evolution of the creative industries

Tune in to discover why Kev has been passionate about 3D innovation since 1992, and how 29studios continues to surprise and delight our customers today!

If you enjoyed this deep dive into the world of AR, VR, and 3D realities, please make sure to subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode! Leave a comment below sharing your biggest takeaway or your own thoughts on the future of virtual reality, and take a moment to engage with our community in the comments section. We love hearing your thoughts.

Dive deeper, discover more conversations here: http://linktr.ee/29studios

Welcome to another exciting episode of the 29ERS Unscripted podcast! Episode 171 features Katelin, as we dive deep into her specialised subject, the fast-paced, high-stakes world of corporate events

Katelin speaks honestly about the unique adrenaline, chaos, and craft of live event production, sharing the unfiltered stories behind delivering end-to-end experiences.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The adrenaline rush of live events and pinpointing the exact moment an event is a success

• Navigating high-pressure situations by asking, "What's the worst that could happen?"

• Maximising ROI and content: Why a single day of an event can become a whole year's worth of storytelling and sales generation through strategic content capture

• The power of customer experience: How making attendees feel special through small, thoughtful details is the key to 10x-ing your events

• Taking the pressure off: How 29studios acts as an extension of the customer's team so they can focus purely on networking and sales

Tune in to hear why taking the pressure off the customer is the ultimate goal, and how 29studios seamlessly weaves events together with their marketing, content, and reality services to create the ultimate brand experience!

If you enjoyed this deep dive into the world of events, please make sure to subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode! Leave a comment below sharing your biggest takeaway or your own event experiences, and take a moment to engage with our community in the comments section. We love hearing your thoughts.

Dive deeper, discover more conversations here: http://linktr.ee/29studios

Welcome to a very special milestone episode of the 29ERS Unscripted podcast! In Episode 170, featuring our four founders, Kev, Gillian, Lynne and Katelin. As they sit down to celebrate 29studios' 17th birthday and reflect on the incredible journey since opening our doors in 2009.

Join the team as we look back on our evolution from a traditional local graphic design and video production house to a global design and technology company.

Our Founders are getting real about the unique privileges and pressures of running a family business and sharing the unfiltered stories behind their success

In this episode, we dive into:

• The moments that almost broke them (but made them stronger)

• Navigating the pandemic

• Why learning to say "no" to the wrong projects has actually opened the door to better opportunities and helped them protect their core values.

• What's next for the creative industry: Exciting predictions on how AI, virtual reality, and immersive technology will revolutionise events and B2B marketing over the next few years

Tune in to hear why standing still is the only real risk, and why the next chapter of 29studios is going to be the best one yet!

If you enjoyed this anniversary reflection, please make sure to subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode! Leave a comment below sharing your biggest takeaway or your own business journey, and take a moment to engage with our community in the comments section. We love hearing your thoughts.

Dive deeper, discover more conversations here: http://linktr.ee/29studios